Photographs: We hereby wish to thank UweDelfs Jespersen of www.itsfoto.dk and “Project Michelangelo” for the use of their
photographs of these two fine Italian liners. Other photographs and postcards
are from the private collections of Mr. C. Dorio (VeronaItaly),
and the author’. We highly recommend a visit to: www.michelangelo-raffaello.com.

Original postcards with an artist
impression of these great liners

Author’s Private collection

Italia Line had been a distinguished Italian
passenger shipping company with many notable and much loved liners, such as the
Conte Grande and the Rex to mention just two of many. Having lost many ships
during World War II, Italia Line commenced an extensive rebuilding programme
and built seven fine new liners. The first five were the 27,000 GRT T/n Giulio Cesare, built in 1951, which was
followed by her sister Augustus in 1952. Then in 1953 the ill fated 29,000 GRT T/n Andrea Doria was built, followed one year
later by her sister T/n Christoforo Colombo. Then, in 1960, the 33,000 GRT super liner T/n Leonardo da
Vinci was built. Leonardo da Vinci would become
Italia Line’s last black hulled liner. With the success and the grandeur
of Leonardo da Vinci, Italia Line decided to build
two even larger more luxurious Trans-Atlantic liners.

T/n Leonardo da Vinci is seen here now also
painted all white whilst cruising in the 1060’s

Author’s Private collection

Continuing the company’s trend of naming
their ships after famous historical figures, the two new liners on order were
to be named Michelangelo and Raffaello. It was also decided that these two Trans-Atlantic
liners would be painted all white, which was something not seen on the Atlantic before. In addition they would have a
three-class configuration - First, Cabin and Tourist Class. Michelangelo and
Raffaello were the pinnacle of Italian maritime design and shipbuilding, having
the most advanced technologically available at the time.

T/n Michelangelo and Raffaello would be the first
major passenger liners to be built as a pair, since the German Bremen and
Europa of 1929. Other well known ships, such as the RMS Queen Mary and Queen
Elizabeth were running mates, but not identical sisters.

Italia Line decided that Michelangelo and
Raffaello, with their unique Art-Deco style, would be the most beautiful and
luxurious liners on the high seas. They offered nothing less than thirty 30
lounges, a two level cinema, 3 night clubs, 18 lifts, a garage with room for 50
cars, as well as 6 pools that interestingly had infra red heating for the
surrounding areas.

A fine cutaway of the ships

Another interesting feature was,
all materials used for the ships décor were fireproof, making these ships well
ahead of their time, as the SOLAS (Safety OfLife At
Sea) regulations came about much later.

Michelangelo’s interiors were designed by
three famed marine architects, Nino Zoncada, VincenzoMonaco
and AmedeoLuccichenti. The
quality of their work was well established having worked on Italian Line
liners. Michelangelo’s interiors were more classical in style, whist her
sister was quite different. Raffaello was handed over to design architects,
Michele and Giancarlo BusiriVici
who had mostly worked on buildings and were known for their unique style of
futuristic designs. The magnificent first class restaurant and foyer would
stand out as being simply remarkable.

Raffaello’s
stylish First Class lobby

However, other parts Raffaello's interiors were
considered as being a little cold and metallic, rather than the warm feel of
Michelangelo. Their ultra modern 45ft high twin funnels were topped with long
sweeping wind guides. They were certainly like nothing ever seen before. They
were more like exhaust pipes surrounded by decorative lattice work, which
created an unusual, but attractive look.

Specifications:T/n Michelangelo

Built
by:1962
- Ansaldo, SestriPonente – Yard no: 1577

Tonnage:45,911 GRT

Length:276.2m
– 906ft

Width:30.1m -
98.7ft

Draft:10.4m

Propulsion:Geared
turbines from builders 87,000 SHP– Twin screws

Service
speed:26.5 -
max 29 knots

Decks:11

Passengers:535 First Class

550
Cabin (second) Class

690 Tourist Class

1,200
for cruises

Crew:720

Fully
Air-Conditioned

2
sets of Denny Brown stabilizers

Specifications:T/n Raffaello

Built
by:1963
CR dell’AdriaticoTrieste – Yard no: 1864

Tonnage:45,933 GRT

Length:275.5m
– 904ft

Width:30.2m
– 99.1ft

Draft:10.4m

Propulsion:Geared
turbines from builders 87,000 SHP – Twin screws

Service
speed:26.5 -
max 31.5 knots

Decks:11

Passengers:535 First Class

550 Cabin Class

690 Tourist Class

1,200
for cruises

Crew:720

Fully
Air-Conditioned

2
sets of Denny Brown stabilizers

Michelangelo was launched on September 16, 1962

With her funnels in place Michelangelo is seen here whilst being fitted
out

Michelangelo
was launched on September
16, 1962 but not completed until April 1965. She departed on hermaiden voyage from Genoa to New York on May 12, 1965.
Raffaello was launched on March 24, 1963 and completed July 1965. Prior to her
maiden trans-Atlantic voyage she departed on July 10, 1965 for a Mediterranean
Cruise visiting Cannes,
Malta, Piraeus
and Naples. On
July 25, 1965
she departed Genoa for her official maiden
voyage to New York.

Now completed and looking splendid, T/n Raffaello and Michelangelo are
seen in Genoa

T/n Michelangelo in New
YorkHarbour

Author’s Private collection

Her unique funnel

Author’s Private collection

On October 31, 1965, being just four months after
Raffaello's maiden Trans-Atlantic crossing, a fire broke out in her engine room
and she limped back to Genoa
using one propeller. On April 12, 1966 Michelangelo was hit by a massive stormin the middle of Atlantic,
with waves up to 20 meters high, they
hit the ship, breaking high over the bridge and washing over the open
decks. Then a wave so big, it tore a
large hole in the forward superstructure. Sadly, this
violent experience saw two passengers and one crew member killed.

As we can see here the damage was massive

Although grand in every way, sadly Michelangelo and
Raffaello had a relatively short 10 year Trans-Atlantic career, which ended due
to three factors, the Jet age, the ever increasing running costs, and the
Italian Government withdrawing its financial support. As a rescue attempt, in
1974, Italia Line entered both ships on cruise duties with an occasional
Trans-Atlantic voyage. But profits continued to decline, which spelled the end
of these two remarkable ships. However, their short lived Trans-Atlantic and
cruise career, this does not detract of the grandeur of the Michelangelo and
Raffaello, for they will always be known as being the pinnacle of Italian
shipping. Michelangelo and Raffaello were memorable ships indeed, for who can
ever forget those funnels?

A shapely stern indeed!

Five year old EmididoOttaviani with his father & mother on Michelangelo in Naples - September 19, 1968

Provided by EmididoOttaviani

Although less grand, only one other much loved
Italian liner of that era, the 1965 built 39,241 GRT
SS Oceanic has survived and is still sailing under her original name with the
Spanish Cruise Company, Pullmantur cruises, but sadly both Michelangelo and
Raffaello’s fate diminished rapidly during the mid seventies.

Home Lines SS Oceanic

In 1975 The Italian Government withdrew it
financial assistance after which the Raffaello undertook one more
Trans-Atlantic voyage, a sailing that was filled with those who loved these two
great liners. Amongst them was another fan of the ship, the Duchess of Windsor.
Raffaello departed New York
on April 21, for her final Atlantic crossing. After disembarking her
passengers, she was laid up at La
Speziaon
June 6. Michelangelo was at first laid up in Genoa
on July 5, 1975,
but was moved to La Spezia,
and moored alongside her sister, on September 15, 1975.

Michelangelo and Raffaello seen laid up in La Spezia

With both ships on the
market, KnudKloster - NCL
(who later purchased the SS France, renamed Norway) was the first to inspect
them, as did Home Lines, Chandris and Costa Lines. Even the Soviets inspected
them, but, all decided against purchasing them, although both ships were in
perfect condition.

Then late in 1976, the
Shah of Persia (today’s
Iran)
made an offer to buy Michelangelo
and Raffaello for the use as barracks for army
personnel as well as accommodations for oil workers. Tragically, Italia Line accepted
their ridiculous offer, and both ships were sold in February 1977. Although
built at a cost of $45 million each, Italia Line sold them for miserly $2
million each. When both ships departed for Persia, their public rooms and
lobbies had been stripped of furnishings, art works, as well as all items not
required by the Persians.

The
final Years

T/n Michelangelo 1977 -1992

With a crowd watching T/n Michelangelo
departs La Spezia for Persia

Michelangelo departed
under her own power on July 8, 1977 for Persia, arriving at Bandar Abbas on
the 21st. After modifications she was used as military barracks, accommodating
500 officers and 1300 marines from the Persian Navy. The raising of the Persian
flag was attended by the Shah of Persia. There had been various rumours that
she and Raffaello might be restored as cruise ships, however this never came
about. Over the next 13 years, she was badly neglected, which saw the hull and
superstructure rusting away and her magnificent teak decks had lifted so badly,
she was past the point of repair. Finally in 1991 the Iranians decided that she
was too old for any further use, and she was sold to Bangladeshi breakers be
broken up. She arrived at the Chittagong
breakers yard on June
7, 1991, but she was not scrapped until early 1992.

Michelangelo seen beached and partially
broken up at ChittagongBangladesh

T/n Raffaello 1977 - 1983

The once magnificent T/n Raffaello is seen
here moored at Bushire Persia/Iran

Raffaello departed for
Bushire in Persia.
Like her sister she was also modified and was able to accommodate around 1,800
military personnel. However, after a few years she was so badly neglected, she
was more popular as home to the local rats and other vermin that Navy personal.
To make matters worse, in 1983, during the Iraq/Iran war, Raffaello was
targeted by the Iraqi’s who relentlessly bombed her until she sank in
shallow waters. Some time later the wreck was further damaged as an Iranian
cargo ship, the Iran Salam, ploughed into her. This once majestic
Trans-Atlantic liner became a total wreck fully submerged in the harbour of BushireIran.
There has been no further news of her and it is most likely that the wreck will
have been removed by now.

Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author
or from the author’s private collection.In addition there are some images that have been
provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit
is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to
me without details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite
if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my
email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com
only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have
seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals
either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well
that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show
these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where
credit is due!

This
notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all
photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page,
that is, when a page is updated!